Mahindananda acquitted

  The Colombo High today ordered to acquit and release Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage from the case filed against him by the Attorney General. The Attorney General had filed indictments against Minister Aluthgamage for allegedly misappropriating Rs.3.9 million belonging to a trade union affiliated to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The defence had made a request in terms of section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code to acquit and release the accused without calling  for defence witnesses. While ordering the accused to be acquitted and released, High Court Judge Adithya Patabendi observed that prosecution evidence has failed to establish the commission of the offence and charges against accused in the indictment. The Attorney General had filed indictments against Mahindananda Aluthgamage alleging that he had misappropriate Rs.3.9 million belonging to a trade union affiliated to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), during the previous Mahinda Rajapakse regime (2010-2015).